Water-in-oil emulsion paints containing a leafing pigment



Patented Feb. 8, 1949 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE WATER-IN-OIL EMULSION PAINTS CON- TAINING'A LEAFING PIGMENT Y Vaughn R. Smith, El Cerrito, and Don E. Stevens, Fairfax, Calif., assignors to California Research Corporation, San Francisco, Calif., a corporation of Delaware No Drawing. Application November 6, 1946, Serial No. 708,119

9 Claims.

maximum protection from the action of the atmosphere. The metal coat has high opacity and low moisture permeability. providing a surface protection for a longer period of time than is provided by the usual pigment-type paint. Furthermore, an aluminum paint presents a generally clean, bright, pleasant appearance to the painted article or structure.

It has been an object of the paint industry to produce an'inexpensive aluminum paint which would be stable in storage, e. g., an aluminum paint in which the aluminum particles would retain the property of leafing to the surface. The major portion of the aluminum paint which is sold on the present market is sold in two separate containers; 1. e., the vehicle container (the container for the fluid medium in which the aluminum is dispersed) and the aluminum powder container. The paint vehicle (i. e., the fluid medium in which the aluminum powder is dispersed) and the aluminum powder must be mixedas needed just prior to use. If this mixed paint is permitted to stand, the aluminum particles gradually lose their property to leaf to the surface of the vehicle,

and it has not been possible to reimpart this leaflng property to the aluminum particles.

By leafing is meant that characteristic of an aluminum paint which results in the floating of the aluminum particles .to the surface of the vehicle resulting in an interlacing and layering of in one container by the manufacturer) are produced and marketed at the present time, but the high cost of the ingredients used to retain the I proper leafing quality of the aluminum powder precludes the possibility of an inexpensive widely usable aluminum paint.

Although the advantages of this invention are primarily directed to the coating compositions 2 containing aluminum as the leaflng pigment, the advantages are also applicable to coating compositions containing otherleaflng pigments.

It is an object of this inventionto produce an inexpensive ready-mix leaflng pigment paint.

It is another object of this invention to produce a ready-mix leaflng pigment paint which may be sold in one container.

It is a further object of this invention to pro- 10 duce a leailng pigment paint in which the leafing pigment will retain its ability to leaf to the surface of the paint vehicle. I

, It-is also an object of this invention .to produce an inexpensive ready-mix'aluminum paint.

15 It is a still further object of this invention to produce a coating composition in which the leafing pigment will retain its ability to leaf to the surfac of the paint vehicle. It is still another object of this invention to produce a ready-mix leaflng pigment paint which permits the presence of a smaller amount of leafing pigment per gallon of paint than has heretofore been required.

Further and other pertinent objects of this invention will become apparent from the following composition), a leaflng pigment and water; the

water being dispersed in the vehicle in the form of a water-in-oil emulsion.

By means of such an emulsion, the leaflng properties of the pigment are improved and 35 other advantages result, as described herein below.

The base is a thermoplastic substance. The thermoplastic substance will normally be selected from a group of bituminous substances .(petroleum asphalt, natural asphalts. coal tars and coal tar pitches). However, other-thermoplastic substances may serve as the base. for the paint vehicle of this invention (e. g., alkyd resins, ester gums, butene polymers and similar thermoplastic substances) It is preferredto use a petroleum asphalt as the base for the paint vehicle. 1 ;'he petroleum asphalt may be a residual asphalt or an airblown asphalt having penetration.;values of 0 to 300 (ring and ball method). However, it is preferred to use an asphalt having penetration values of 0 to 50. v

The solvent used in the composition of this 3 invention may be any solvent or combination of solvents .in which the base is soluble. It is desirable to use a solvent which has a surface tension of 20 to 78 gammas, preferable 26 to 50 gammaa. The solvents which may be used include the following: benzene, xylene, toluene, pseudocumene, petropine. carbon tetrachloride, petroleum thinners, etc., and mixtures thereof, such as equal portions of benzene and a light petroleum thinner having a boiling point range of 300 F. to 400 F.. or a mixture consisting .of 1.0 parts .(by weight) of toluene, parts gum turpentine, and 85 parts of a light petroleum thinner.

The ieaflng pigment of this invention may be any metallic matter (e. g., copper, aluminum and chromium) which may be produced orprocured in a flaky form as contrasted to a cubical form or a spherical form. The leaiing pigment of primaryconcern in this invention is the aluminum leaf.

.Thebase, the solvent and the pigment thus used are the ingredients ofcoating compositions of the type with which this invention is concerned. They may be mixed together in the usual proportions and by the usual methods.

produce a; water-in-oil type emulsion without the aid ofan emulsifying agent: or water may be dispersed in the vehicle with the aid of any suitable emulsifying agent. Tothe water-in-oil emulsion is then added the pigment. This particular sequence of steps need not, however, be followed; aslong as the ultimate object of a water-111,01 type emulsion containing the de sired ingredients-is produced.

j 'freferablyjhowever, 'an "emulsifying agent is lufse'd'to produce 'fthe"'water-in -oil emulsion; and this emulsifyingfiagilt .18 Preferably an alkali metal soap"of'afattyiicidcontaining 12 or more carbon atoms. simples-mealtime alkali metal ddfapsp'f fatty acid ja,re:'"sodium laurate, potas- Shim laurate." l'nyristate, sodium palmlflute. sodium stearate, sodium arachidate, sodium :oleate and ricinoleate. Examples of other veryeffective emulsifyi g agents which may be used include "starch, sodium bicarbonate the alkali metal salts of petroleum sulfonic acids; e. g., sodium petroleum sulfonate.

roduct btihe ave aa thus far scribed comprise-a 'vehicle,-a le aiiin p sment and water v.rl'isltaei"s edtifi -the vehicle-with or without hi} "agent. These products may also contain a fatty aj'i'd'bi' 12 or more carbon atoms; such acids furtheni'enhance theleaflng'properties oil-the pigment...--. ;['he fatty acid may beadded all any stage ofttl e compounding procedure or totheiinished product. Examples of fatty acids are; .lauric .acid,;. .-myristic acid, palm itic acid, stoaricacld, arachidicacid, melissimacid, oleic acid and ricinoleic acid. a

formulas of compositiom: of the invention-are as follows: r

4 Example L-No emulsifying agent employed.

Base 5% to 60%. preferably to 50% Solvent 20% to 80%,.Dreierably 40% to 80% Pigment 2% to 40%, Preferably 4% to 10% Water 2% to 70%, preferably 10% to 30% Example lL-A fatty acid added to composition wherein no emulsifying agent is employed:

Base 5% to 60%. Preferably 20% to 50% Solvent-- 20% to 80%, Preferably 40% to 80% Pigment---" 2% to 40%, preferably 4% to 10% Fatty acid- 0.01% to 10%. preferably 0.1% to 2% Water 2% to 70%. preferably 3% to 10% Example IIL-Emulsifying agent employed:

Base 5% to 80%, preferably 20% to 50% Solvent 20% to 80%, preferably 40% to 60% Pigment 2% to 40%, preferably 4% to 10% Emulsifying agent 01% to 10%, preferably 0.1% to 2% Water 2% to 70%, preferably 3% to 10% Example IV.A fatty acid added to a composition wherein an emulsifying agent is employed:

Base 5% to 60%, preferably 20% to 50% So1vent 20% to preferably 40% to 60% Pigment"--- 2% to 40%. preferably 4% to 10% Emulsifying agent--- 0.01% to 10%, Preferably 0.1% to 2% Fatty acid- 0.01% to 10%. preferably 0.1% to 2% Water 2% to 70%, preferably 3% to 10% Typical formulas for stable coating compositions (specifically aluminum paint) are as follows:

Ingredients Per Cent ll-fll Penetration Asphalt c 28 Aromatic Petroleum 'illillll 39 Aluminum 8 Water Ingredients Per Cent 31-40 Penetration Asphalt 36.3 Benzene 50. 7 Stearic Acid l. 5 Aluminum 8.0 Water 3. 6

III

Ingredients some Acid .I

The following examples will further illustrate the practice of this invention:

.Example V.--A high sulfur content (4.2%) California crude residuum was air-blown to produce an asphaltic stock having a melting point range of 145 F. to 155 F. (ring and ball method). To 30 parts by weight of this warm asphaltic stock was added 41 parts by weight of a highly aromatic (45% aromatic) petroleum thinner. This whole asphalt-thinner mix plus 25 parts of 'water were slowly poured into a colloid mill inseparate streams in a ratio of 71 parts by weight of asphalt-thinner mix to 25 parts by weight of water to produce a water-in-oil type emulsion. This emulsion was again passed through the colloid mill. To 4 parts by weight of aluminum powder (standard varnish grade) was added sufilcient amount of this wat-er-in-oil emulsion to form a paste. Further quantities of the emulsion Were added until a thin slurry resulted. The remainder of the emulsion was then added and stirred until a homogeneous finished composition was obtained. 7

Example VI.A high sulfur content (4.2%) California crude residuum was air-blown to produce an asphaltic stock having a melting point range of 145 F. to 155 F. (ring and ball method). To 40 parts by weight of this warm asphalt stock was added 60 parts by weight of a highly aromatic (45% aromatic) petroleum thinner. After this hydrocarbonsolution had been allowed to cool, there was added, with stirring, a solution of 0.4

part by weight of sodium stearate in 3.5 parts by weight of water,,thus producing a water-in-oil emulsion. To 6 parts by weight of aluminum powder (standard varnish grade) was added a suflicient amount of this water-in-oil emulsion to form a paste. Further quantities of the emulsion were added until a thin slurry resulted. The remainder of the emulsion was then added and stirred until a homogeneous finished composition was obtained.

The leafing properties of this coating composition so prepared have remained stable for a period of time in excess of one year.

Ewample VII.A butene polymer stock was air-blown to produce a resinous stock having a melting point of 175 F. to 185 F. (ring and ball method). To 40 parts by weight of this resin was added 50 parts by weight of a highly aromatic petroleum thinner. To this hot resinous solution was added 0.5 part by weight of stearic acid, with thorough agitation. The above mixture was cooled, and a solution of 0.3 part by weight of sodium stearate in parts by weight of water was then thoroughly stirred into the resin mix. 20 parts by weight of standard varnish grade aluminum powder was incorporated into the mix in a procedure similar to that outlined above in Example I, until a homogeneous finished composition was obtained.

The leafing properties of this coating composition so prepared have remained stable for a period of time in excessof one year.

We claim:

1. A fluid leafing pigment paint consistingv of by weight 240% leafing pigment and the remainder consisting essentially of a paint vehicle, said paint vehicle being an emulsion with water as the internal phase and an organic, waterinsoluble, thermoplastic paint base as the external phase.

2. The composition of claim 1, wherein said leafing pigment is aluminum.

3. The composition of claim 1, wherein said paint vehicle is an emulsion with water as its internal phase and a blend of asphalt and asphalt solvent as the external phase.

4. The composition of claim 1 containing, as a leafing promoter, 01-10% by weight of a fatty acid containing not less than 12 carbons.

5. The composition of claim 1 containing, as a. leafing promoter, 01-10% by Weight stearic acid.

6. The composition of claim 1 containing, as an emulsifier, .01-10% by weight of an alkali metal salt of a fatty acid containing not less than 12 carbon atoms.

7. The composition of claim 1 containing, as an emulsifier, .01-10% by weight of sodium stearate.

8. A fluid leafing pigment paint consisting of by weight 240% aluminum leafing pigment and the remainder consisting essentially of an emulsion having water as its internal phase and a solution of asphalt in a hydrocarbon solvent as its external phase, and, as a leafing promoter, .01-10% by weight of a fatty acid containing not less than 12 carbon atoms and, as an emulsifier, .01-10% by weight of an alkali metal salt of a fatty acid containing not less than 12 carbon atoms.

9. A fluid leafing pigment paint consisting of by weight 2-40% aluminum leafing pigment and the remainder consisting essentially of an emulsion having water as its internal phase and a solution of asphalt in a hydrocarbon solvent as its external phase, and, as a leafing promoter, .01-10% by weight stearic acid and, as an emulsifier, .01-10% by weight sodium stearate, said paint being capable of being stored without substantial loss in leafing properties.

VAUGHN R. SMITH. DON E. STEVENS.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,568,215 Fleming Jan. 5, 1926 1,733,493 Kirschbraun Oct. 29, 1929 1,765,676 Jones June 24, 1930 2,068,966 Thurston et al Jan. 26, 1937 2,002,891 Hall May 28, 1935 

